indianexpress.com :: Lured by money in T20, Lehmann ready for a comeback

Lured by money in T20, Lehmann ready for a comeback

Posted online: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 0959 hrs IST

Melbourne, February 20:
Lured by the Twenty20 moolah, retired Australian Darren Lehmann, who also heads the cricketers' association in Melbourne, has made himself available for both the official and rebel cricket leagues in India.

Lehmann, who played 117 one dayers and 27 Tests for Australia before calling it quits, took over as president of the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) post-retirement.

But the former left-hander seems bowled over by the charm of the Twenty20 format and the money flowing in and said he would like to don the pad and gloves again, be it for the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League (IPL) or the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

"I've every chance of playing in the ICL or IPL, no problems," he said.

"If an opportunity came up, I would love to play. I would look at all offers," Lehmann was quoted saying by Australian Associated Press, a news agency in Melbourne.

Lehmann felt IPL and ICL could co-exist and he dismissed the fear that a surfeit of Twenty20 events might affect the balance in international cricket.

"I think it will all come together and gel quite well. I am talking the ICC, the ICL and the IPL.

"It will all work and find its niche in the market. I think it is good for the game. Certainly, it is good for the boards, sponsors, the players, the fans and TV," he said.

Lehman said the International Cricket Council and the cricket boards should make necessary arrangements to fit in new leagues in the ICC calendar.

"It's now about finding the time in the international schedule. That comes down to the Boards and the ICC coming together and really trying to nut out the best way for it to work."

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Lured by money in T20, Lehmann ready for a comeback Posted online: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 0959 hrs IST Melbourne, February 20: Lured by the Twenty20 moolah, retired Australian Darren Lehmann, who also heads the cricketers' association in Melbourne, has made himself available for both the official and rebel cricket leagues in India. Lehmann, who played 117 one dayers and 27 Tests for Australia before calling it quits, took over as president of the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) post-retirement. But the former left-hander seems bowled over by the charm of the Twenty20 format and the money flowing in and said he would like to don the pad and gloves again, be it for the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League (IPL) or the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). "I've every chance of playing in the ICL or IPL, no problems," he said. "If an opportunity came up, I would love to play. I would look at all offers," Lehmann was quoted saying by Australian Associated Press, a news agency in Melbourne. Lehmann felt IPL and ICL could co-exist and he dismissed the fear that a surfeit of Twenty20 events might affect the balance in international cricket. "I think it will all come together and gel quite well. I am talking the ICC, the ICL and the IPL. "It will all work and find its niche in the market. I think it is good for the game. Certainly, it is good for the boards, sponsors, the players, the fans and TV," he said. Lehman said the International Cricket Council and the cricket boards should make necessary arrangements to fit in new leagues in the ICC calendar. "It's now about finding the time in the international schedule. That comes down to the Boards and the ICC coming together and really trying to nut out the best way for it to work."